Hibiscus plant named: ‘Cherub’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy  hibiscus  plant named ‘Cherub’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily as to novelty by its tropical aspects, its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, its medium-sized, thick-textured, tubular pink flowers with recurved petal edges and its shiny Maple-like green leaves and unusual pyramidal compactness of about 3 feet, its vigorous and uniform growth habit, and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost, and its genetic achievement as a cross between a tropical and hardy  Hibiscus.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus moscheutos×H. rosa-sinensis.

Variety denomination: ‘Cherub’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization,with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstandingcombination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinctHibiscus plant, which include:

-   -   (a) Refined and noticeably shiny, Maple-like, green leaves which        have smooth margins and pink buds which combined compliments the        landscape;    -   (b) Medium-sized flowers that are outstanding for their soft        pink overlapping petals with tubular shape having recurved petal        edges;    -   (c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open        at least one full day, sometimes two days,    -   (d) The plant being small but vigorous with stouter stems,        compact and “pyramidal” breaking action which gives it unique        landscape utility; and    -   (e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand        winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.    -   (f) The plant being a genetic achievement as a hybrid between a        tropical and hardy Hibiscus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Cherub’ was the result of a 40-year breeding program. Its ancestryincludes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Morespecifically, the plant resulted from multiple crossings with an unnamedproprietary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (unpatented) and an unnamedproprietary Hibiscus moscheutos (unpatented). The single seedling whichmost nearly met all of the above named standards was selected.

This new plant first bloomed in the summer if 1990 and was selected byDavid Fleming and Gretchen Zwetzig on David Fleming's property inLincoln, Nebr. Asexual propagation of the plant by cuttings and rootdivision has shown that the unique and distinguishing features of theplant are faithfully transmitted from generation to generation andappear to be fixed.

Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until frost,while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive characteristics. ThisTROPICAL-HARDY™ Hibiscus plant greatly contributes to the market withits tropical aspect, shear beauty and utter refinement, its compactgrowth habit, its enhanced resistance to disease and insects, itsstability through extremes in rain and drought, and its extremehardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The flower and foliage of the cultivar are shown in the attachedphotographs. More specifically, the drawing a close-up of the flower andfoliage. The plant in the photograph was apx. 5 years of age shown inLincoln, Nebr.

The colors are as true as is reasonably possible to attain inphotographic illustrations of this type. The colors illustrated may beslightly off due to light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar. The specificcolor descriptions are in accordance with the Dictionary of Color (Maerzand Paul), while general color recitations are consistent with ordinaryAmerican color terminology.

‘Cherub’ has not been observed under all possible environmentconditions. It is to be understood that the phenotype may varysignificantly with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length, without, however any difference in genotypeof the plant. The following botanical characteristics and observationsare gathered from a 5 year old plant when grown under normal outdoorconditions in Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4).

THE PLANT

-   Parentage:-   Seed parent: Hibiscus moscheutos. Unnamed and unpatented Fleming    seedling.-   Pollen parent: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Unnamed and unpatented    Fleming seedling.    -   -   Origin.—A selected seedling from stated cross.        -   Type of plant.—Hardy, herbaceous perennial with some            tropical genetics.        -   Classification.—Variety of TROPICAL-HARDY™ Hibiscus plant.        -   Propagation.—Relatively easy to propagate by means of tissue            culture or cuttings; holds its distinguishing            characteristics through successive cuttings and propagations            through cuttings and division.        -   Size.—About 3 feet tall and about 3 ft. wide by the second            year.        -   Form.—Symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots.        -   Habit.—Upright and uniformly branched.        -   Growth.—Vigorous; small and very compact. Full growth (3            ft.) in 2 years.        -   Hardiness.—Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.-   General health: Plant is very disease resistant against rot, aphids,    spider mites, scale, white fly, etc.; sturdy through excessive    drought, rain, or wind.-   Propagation: Relatively easy and fast rooting in approximately 2    weeks.-   Foliage:    -   -   1. Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   2. Shape.—Juvenile: Variable, 3-lobed leaf. Rounded base            shape. Mature: Refined, “maple-like”, 3-5 lobed leaf with            entire to extremely mildly serrate margins and acute apices;            rounded base.        -   3. Size.—Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about            4 inches or 11 cm, width is about 3½ inches or 8½ cm.        -   4. Color.—Young leaves (upper side): L-5, PLATE 23, page 69.            Mature leaves: (upper side): J-2, PLATE 24, page 71. Veins:            L-3, PLATE 23, page 69. Coloration of the lower leaf            surface: L-5, PLATE 23, page 69.        -   5. Surface texture.—Smooth with Medium to High sheen.        -   6. Petiole length.—About 1¼ inches or 3½ cm; Diameter: 3 mm.        -   7. Petiole color.—Green to K-1, PLATE 46, page 115.-   Stems: The stems are stout at the base, becoming more slender toward    the apices; coloration is consistent with the petiole. Coloration is    consistent with the petiole (1E, page 71, PLATE 24). Surface texture    is semi-smooth. Typical and observed stem length is approximately 1    inch. Stem diameter is between ½ inch and 1¼ inches. Internode    length is approximately 1 inch to 1½ inches.

THE FLOWER

-   Blooming period: Profuse from July until frost.-   Flower diameter: Medium to large; about 6½ inches (16 cm).-   Borne: Singly in leaf axils, from midpoint of stems upward.-   Bloom duration: Individual bloom lasts at least one full day,    sometimes 2.-   Form: Campanulate; petals are also very overlapping with a conical    shape and recurved petal edges.-   Bud:    -   -   1. Length.—About 2 inches (or 5½ cm) on day before opening.            Diameter is 1½ to 2 inches.        -   2. Color.—J-5, PLATE 4, page 31.        -   3. Surface texture.—Semi-glabrous.        -   4. Duration.—One to two weeks.-   Corolla: Having 5 petals.    -   -   1. Petal character and dimensions.—Campanulate and very            overlapping. Length is about 4¼ inches or 11 cm. Width is            about 4¼ inches or 11 cm.        -   2. Coloration.—Pale pink petals. (a) Pale pink petals:            F-2, p. 29, PLATE 3. Coloration of lower petal surface:            Slightly lighter than F-2, pg. 29, PLATE 3. (b) Veination in            petals: I-3, pg. 29, PLATE 3. (c) Eye Zone: L-5, pg. 29,            PLATE 3.        -   3. Texture.—Smooth.        -   4. Substance.—Thick.        -   5. Shape.—Campanulate and very overlapping; tubular with            recurved petal edges.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   1. Staminal column.—Stamen along basal two-thirds. Stamen            length: About 2¼ inches (or 5.5 cm). Stamen color: B-1, pg.            29, PLATE 2. Pollen color: E-2, pg 31, PLATE 4.        -   2. Style.—Terminates upper one-third of staminal coumn.            Stigmatic lobe color: A-6, pg. 45, PLATE 11.-   Calyx: Connate at the base; about 1¾ inches (or 4.5 cm) in length.    Color: 6-2, page 23, Plate 23.-   Stipules: None.-   Epicalyx: Whorl of bracts.    -   -   1. Shape.—10 to 12 slender, sword-shaped bractlets.        -   2. Length.—About 1 inches (or 2¼ cm).        -   3. Color.—L-5, pg 67, PLATE 22.-   Penduncle:    -   -   1. Typical.—About 2 inches (6 cm). Observed length: 2½            inches (6.5 cm).        -   2. Strength.—Stiff and sturdy.        -   3. Color.—6-2, page 23, Plate 23.-   Seeds:    -   -   1. Diameter.—1 cm.        -   2. Shape.—Round.        -   3. Color.—Brown: 8A, page 23, Plate 15.-   Roots of plant: Consistent with that of Hibiscus moscheutos; white,    1-3 inch wide fibrous root system with middle “tap” root that can    descend 10 ft.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

This plant, as hybridized TROPICAL-HARDY™ Hibiscus, is valuable to thelandscape market for its improvements in tropical aspect, pink tubularflowers with recurved edges, shiny and very refined, Maple-like greenfoliage on a much more compact, pyramidal plant that will grow nicely inpatio pots, its all-around vigor, good breaking action, and adaptationto extreme environments, including the ability to consistently survivewinter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of TROPICAL-HARDY™ Hibiscus plant, asherein shown and described, characterized by its tropical aspect,extremely compact, pyramidal nature, its shiny and very refined green,Maple-like foliage, its pale pink tubular flowers with recurved petaledges, its vigor, and its hardiness.